Which type of diabetes is often associated with ketosis-prone episodes?

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is associated with ketosis-prone episodes because it is characterized by an absolute deficiency of insulin due to autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Without sufficient insulin, the body is unable to utilize glucose effectively for energy, leading to increased lipolysis and the production of ketone bodies as an alternative energy source. This accumulation of ketones can result in diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious and potentially life-threatening condition commonly seen in individuals with type 1 diabetes.

In contrast, while type 2 diabetes can lead to some degree of ketone production, it generally has enough insulin production to prevent ketosis in most cases. Gestational diabetes typically resolves after pregnancy and is usually managed without the development of ketosis. Maturity onset diabetes of the young, specifically the types associated with genetic mutations affecting insulin secretion, rarely presents with ketosis unless there is significant metabolic stress.

Thus, type 1 diabetes is uniquely susceptible to ketosis-prone episodes due to its nature of insulin deficiency and reliance on fat metabolism for energy, leading to an increased risk of diabetic ketoacidosis.